Lift up your eyes and see:
Who created this?
(Isaiah 40:26)
In today’s Gospel passage, Mark’s terse summary of the essence of Jesus’ message and work seems to be saying to his readers then and now, “Get a hold of this quickly so you can get on with it yourself.”
OPENING IN COMMUNION WITH THE ANCIENTS
From Psalm 147
In “Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness”, Nan C. Merrill, Continuum Press, 2002
Sing to the Beloved with thanksgiving;
mingle with the melodies of the spheres!
Awaken to your inheritance in all the universe!
For you belong to heaven,
to the stars and the galaxies.
You come also from the earth,
from mineral and plant,
pure water courses through your veins.
Every creature
– those that swim and fly and walk on land –
knows you as of old;
And each human – in body or in spirit –
welcomes you in the heart-song of Love,
where we are One Being.
Praise the Beloved, Life of all life!
HYMN: “IT’S A SONG OF PRAISE TO THE MAKER”, MV#30
I chose this version because it is recorded by folks from Pacific Spirit United Church in Vancouver
where the Rev. Maggie Enwright, a good friend to Denman United, is currently the Minister.
SCRIPTURE
I have included a few more verses here than the Lectionary provides for this week because I see this whole section as one – a summary of the essence of the vision and work of Jesus and his followers. Galillee is a northern province of Judea/Israel/Palestine. The village of Jesus’ youth, Nazareth, is located there but it seems that Jesus adopted Capernaum, a major centre in Galillee, as his adult home base. Capernaum is located on the Sea of Galillee.
Mark 1:14-39
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church: Thanks be to God.
TED’S REFLECTIONS
INTRICATELY CONNECTED
I have a friend who wastes no words. His phone message, for example, is direct and to the point: “I can’t take your call. Leave a message.” He’s like that in conversation as well. You really have to pay attention to every word because there aren’t many of them and each one is important and carefully chosen. If he alludes to something he said to you yesterday or a month ago, he doesn’t bother reminding you of it; he assumes you were paying attention then and remember it now. I have another friend whose conversation is awash with words. I can’t recall her phone message any more but I do remember many conversations with her during the time we lived nearer each other. It’s like she is writing in her head a full analysis of whatever is the topic of the conversation. Clauses and sub-clauses abound, along with dashes and slashes that you can actually sense as she speaks, with parentheses and side-bars inserted as well. Both friends are seriously minded, usually profound, always warm-hearted and dear – and will even take time to appreciate one of my jokes.
Mark, who is credited as the author of the earliest known New Testament Gospel, is more like that first friend: terse and to the point, wasting no words on one subject so that he can get on to the next one. In the extended passage we are considering here, Mark summarizes in a few short paragraphs what the other Gospel writers take a few chapters to cover. I see these paragraphs as a quick pencil sketch of the essence of what Jesus was about. He spoke and taught, he created community, he liberated, he healed, and he prayed. It’s as if Mark is saying to his readers then and now, “Get a hold of this quickly and get on with it yourself.”
Mark’s quick sketch is also a picture of the “kingdom of God” which is the heart of Jesus’ motivating vision. It is a world and a way of life that simply works for everyone. Where no one is inhibited or excluded by dis-ease from within them or around them. Where everyone lives in an assured and interdependent community of equity, peace, and security. And maybe the most important factor, a way of life that is nourished from a wellspring of intimacy with the Source and Creator of each one and all that exists.
Jesus seems to have had a unique ability to restore those he encountered to their authentic, whole, and healthy selves. Call it a miracle if you want but I see it as much more natural than supernatural. Because Jesus was authentic, whole, and healthy in himself, those qualities of being freely flowed through him to others. Those he was drawing into his community were a bit impatient with Jesus because he took time apart to commune with his Beloved Abba each morning. There was just too much need out there for that, his disciples seemed to think. But I think Jesus understood that he would be of little use to those in need if he didn’t take that time to replenish himself regularly. He needed to keep the channel that connected him to his Divine Source open and free so that the channel that connected him to others was also open and free to connect them with his and their source of authenticity, wholeness, and health.
The Psalmist – in Nan Merrill’s lovely rephrasing – paints a picture of this elusive “kingdom of God” as well. It is a vision of humanity rooted in the earth and interconnected with every particle stretching out into an ever-expanding universe; where everything that is awakens from the illusion of being alienated and isolated and comes to realize itself as “One Being”, including with the Beloved who is the Divine Source of all.
We can be such an authentic, liberating, healing, and community-creating presence ourselves when we awaken to our essential oneness of being with all that exists AND when we develop an intentional and regular practice that keeps us connected with our own Divine Source and, in turn, maintains an open channel to connect us with others and all of us together with our common Source.
For Further Reflection:
1. Have you ever had a breakthrough experience in your life where you were more in touch with your essential oneness with the whole created order and its source? What helps to open us to such a possibility?
2. Have you met people along the way that seem to have the capacity to draw the best and truest out of you and others? What was it about such a person that seemed to give them that ability?
3. In the busyness of life and the press of needs around you, how do you take time to replenish yourself? How in particular do you nourish intimacy with your Divine Source, however you imagine or name such a mystery for yourself?
How might any of your reflections or current concerns lead you into prayer
before you continue with what follows?
OUR DEDICATION
From the United Church of Canada’s Song of Faith
God is Holy Mystery, beyond complete knowledge, above perfect description. Yet, in love, the one eternal God seeks relationship. So God creates the universe and with it the possibility of being and relating. God tends the universe, mending the broken and reconciling the estranged. God enlivens the universe, guiding all things toward harmony with their Source. Grateful for God’s loving action, we cannot keep from singing.
HYMN: “I CANNOT KEEP FROM SINGING”
A COVID-times version of a hymn in the United Church Hymnbook, VU#716
CONCLUDING BLESSING
A poem by John Fox, “When Someone Deeply Listens to You”
Source: “Leading from Within: Poetry that Sustains the Courage to Lead”, Jossey-Bass, 2007
Maybe there is something in this poem that captures the special gift Jesus had and one that we can all aspire to.
When someone deeply listens to you
it is like holding out a dented cup
you’ve had since childhood
and watching it fill up with
cold, fresh water.
When it balances on top of the brim,
you are understood.
When it overflows and touches your skin,
you are loved.
When someone deeply listens to you
the room where you stay
starts a new life
and the place where you wrote
your first poem
begins to glow in your mind’s eye.
It is as if gold has been discovered!
When someone deeply listens to you
your bare feet are on the earth
and a beloved land that seemed distant
is now at home within you.
Peace be with you
In the name of the Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One with all Creation.
Ted
